Isaac Samuel
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has denied working for President Bola Tinubu or the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council of engaging in unnecessary attacks against him, presidential candidate Peter Obi and their party.
Kwankwaso, in a statement on Sunday, dismissed suggestions that the NDC presidential ticket was working for the APC or would withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in favour of the ADC candidate, Atiku Abubakar, describing such claims as unfounded.
The disputes followed Kwankwaso’s recent call on Atiku to step aside for Obi in the 2027 presidential election, a position that drew criticism from the ADC campaign council.
The council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, had accused Kwankwaso of advancing Tinubu’s political interests by calling on Atiku to withdraw from the race rather than directing his criticism at the APC-led government.
Ologbondiyan described Kwankwaso’s intervention as self-serving and alleged that it could deepen divisions within the opposition ahead of the election.
Reacting to the criticism, Kwankwaso accused the ADC campaign council of focusing on attacking the NDC rather than presenting the competence, credibility and capacity of its own candidate to Nigerians.
He argued that the ADC-PCC should concentrate on addressing allegations levelled against its candidate by Vice-President Kashim Shettima instead of targeting him and Obi.
Kwankwaso warned that the ADC campaign council might attempt to mislead NDC supporters on the eve of the election by claiming that his party intended to withdraw from the contest in favour of the ADC candidate.
He, however, insisted that the NDC would remain in the race, ruling out any plan to step down for the ADC or another political party.
He said: “I have noted with deep concern the conduct of the ADC campaign team. The attacks directed at me, our presidential candidate His Excellency Peter Obi, and our party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), are unnecessary and unhelpful.
“Rather than focusing on presenting the competence, credibility, and capacity of their own candidate as we have consistently done by placing our credentials and record of achievements before Nigerians, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council appears intent on creating mischief against our party and ticket.
“This includes attempts to portray us as working for the ruling party or to suggest that we may withdraw from the race in favour of the ADC candidate at the last minute.
“The ADC-PCC would be better served directing its energy toward rebutting the serious allegations levelled against their candidate by the Vice President, His Excellency Kashim Shettima, instead of targeting me and His Excellency Peter Obi.
“We are aware that the ADC-PCC may try to mislead our supporters on the eve of the election by claiming that we intend to withdraw in their favour.
“Let me state clearly and unequivocally: we will not withdraw our candidature for the ADC or any other party. We remain confident in our capacity, competence, and readiness to lead Nigeria.
Kwankwaso criticised both the APC-led government and the ADC, arguing that neither offered the alternative he believed Nigerians needed.
“The APC-led government has failed Nigerians. The ADC offers no better alternative,” he said.
He described the NDC ticket as a credible option capable of addressing the country’s challenges, including insecurity, education, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and the economy.
According to him, the ticket is committed to national unity and has support across northern and southern Nigeria.
Kwankwaso described the NDC as a formidable opposition party and urged its supporters and other Nigerians to remain committed to its electoral campaign.
